text: S53P4 bioactive glass was first used in a clinical setting as an alternative to bone or cartilage grafts in facial reconstruction surgery. The use of artificial materials as bone prosthesis had the advantage of being much more versatile than traditional autotransplants, as well as having fewer postoperative side effects.
  There is tentative evidence that bioactive glass by the composition S53P4 may also be useful in long bone infections. Support from randomized controlled trials, however, is still not available as of 2015.